A future focused peer network and European co-commission experiment.
At a moment of continued uncertainty, EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) brings together independent performance festivals from across the UK and mainland Europe and invites them to rip up the festival rule book as they explore what the future of producing festivals will look like.
Imagining Futures connects nimble and adventurous festivals and fosters collaboration between the sector. It aims to spark new connections, support artistic development and encourage porous, international dialogue at a time when barriers seem to be increasing.
Across a series of online gatherings, the festivals will discuss the most urgent themes impacting on artistic choices and festival logistics and explore innovative formats for the future. Topics may include climate change, care, representation, sustainability, artist development, funding, pace, rhythm and risk.
Key conversations will be documented and shared with cultural colleagues as these crucial discussions unfold. The festivals will also have funding to initiate collaborative, experimental commissions that respond to the shared values and emergent themes being discussed.
The network includes festival leaders from 5 UK festivals and 5 festivals from EU countries as a core group. A further 4 festivals from EU countries are also involved as associates, alongside London-based cultural institutes.
Funding for Imagining Futures is secured through EUNIC Global (European Union National Institutes for Culture), the European network of organisations engaging in cultural relations. Together with their partners, they bring to life European cultural collaboration in more than 90 countries worldwide with a network of over 120 clusters, drawing on the broad experience of our members from all EU member states and associate countries. The nine EUNIC London member institutes who are actively working on the programme represent Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland.
All partners:
